Fender Musicmaster Bass Guitar

1979 Musicmaster Bass, made in USA. Standard 30" scale length/19 frets. Stock single pickup and, I assume, stock pots - 1 vol, 1 tone. Stock bridge - but not through body string mounting (they mount through the back end of the bridge) Originally white, now a nicely yellowed patina of age. A little knocked up, but overall pretty decent for a 30 year old instrument. I paid $150 for this little guy about a decade ago.

This is a sweet, little back up for my 63 P bass. It's about half the weight of the P. The sound is quite thin and unsophisticated compared to my Demarzio equipped P. I intend to replace the broken pickguard and the pickup some time soon with similar split P style demarzios or the equivalent. I'll also upgrade the pots, tuners, and bridge at that point. It doesn't hold tune as well as I'd like and I'd really like to take this on the road. I'm playing a lot of semi acoustic stuff now, and lugging the stand up is a pain in the *** at times. This doesn't take up much room.

I'm running it through an early Ashdown stack right now. I've also used it through a vintage, blackface bassman, a small 2 8" Ampeg, and a huge stack with two ported JBL 15" pa bass tubs, powered by a vintage V4B. (everything sounded good through that stack, but I'm too old to pack it anymore)

I like the way the neck feels just like my P bass. The finish seems to be great, considering its age and obvious lack of care for long periods before I bought it. I love playing it. It's like a little electric guitar, more than a "real" bass (i.e. my P)

Never had to adjust the truss rod. It's fine for live playing, but I won't use it until I replace the pickups with something a LOT more meaty sounding. (Demarzios, I hope). I have used it for gigs, but not often. When you have a true vintage P bass, it's hard to put that down for ANYTHING else. Even another Fender.

Never used Fender customer support, although I've owned my P bass since 1963

I've been playing professionally since 1964. I typically gig about 175-200 gigs a year. Earlier it was rock. Then country. For two decades I've been mostly playing blues in a big band with horns - that's my electric life. I use a 1963 P bass for most of that. I also have a Japanese fretless P bass, and the Musicmaster under consideration here. I also play a lot of acoustic music using both a 1953 Framus 3/4 single cutaway plywood German bass, and a 1993 Miesel carved acoustic German 3/4. Occasionally I use the Musicmaster as a back up. That work is mostly either Bluegrass/String band, or gypsy jazz stuff.

I like the Musicmaster, and I'm going to be excited to see if I can get it up to any sort of comparable sound to my old Precision.

1974 CBS-era Fender Musicmaster bass guitar, 3/4 scale, alder body and rosewood fingerboard, single pickup, volume, and tone controls. Standard white/black/white pickguard and potato chip pegs. No case.

Mostly original except a few key areas:

Cheap stock pickup and bridge replaced with P-Bass components.

Originally a semi-transparent blonde finish that had grown a sickly yellowish color over the years and was lightly dinged up. Wood had no mentionable grain to highlight with a nice glossy professional refinish, so sprayed it myself with gray/black splatter trunk paint. Super tough and looks like granite - a great stone-age vibe!

My brother purchased it new in '75 or '76 when we were playing in our first band. A few years and a couple of bands later, I bought it when he upgraded to a beautiful limited-edition Precision.

With stock configuration, I'd have to rate this bass a 5, but with pickup and bridge upgrades it earns an 8.

The short-scale Musicmaster is the perfect size for guitarists and beginners. The shorter body and neck, and correspondingly smaller frets make these basses easy and fun to play for anyone accustomed to smaller instruments, or someone getting started. I've taught two people to play using this bass.

The lightweight body and shorter string length will never quite put out the big sound of full-size instruments, such as Fender Jazz or P-Basses. However, replacing the wimpy stock single coil with a P-Bass pickup gets this particular example surprisingly close! The sound is full and round, suitable for most "organic" styles like classic rock and country, also wonderful accompaniment with acoustic instruments. A monster metal machine, it's not.

Though this Musicmaster was gigged about for a few years, it's not well-suited to live performances. But, as noted in other posts, it does work beautifully for recording, especially when run through a DI like an ART Tube MP, yielding nice, balanced, useable tone.

As an entry-level instrument, Fender didn't exactly knock themselves out in the fit & finish department. As described previously, the original stock body finish became pretty ugly, crazing and yellowing, as the years rolled on.

That said, the standard hardware is decent. The neck is straight and intonation good with replacement P-Bass bridge. The instrument stays in tune for years!

This Musicmaster has the requisite cracks in the pickguard next to the output jack and one of the screw holes, as so many do. Step on the cable one time and this is the unfortunate outcome.

I've also never understood why the "thumbrest" was mounted on this model below the strings and next to the neck. I mounted a second one, identical to the original, above the strings and back by the bridge - where a thumbrest belongs!

With the muddy, low-output original pickup, even with an incredible amp rig you'd be unlikely to get outstanding live tone with the Musicmaster. With a better pickup, it certainly could be used in certain live settings and is a useful intrument for recording.

The bass is quite solid and dependable. No question it could go out without backup.

This thirty-plus year old bass has stood the test of time, and has never needed attention outside of the occasional setup.

The Fender Musicmaster is an ideal bass for anyone wanting to learn to play. Its frets are somwhere between those of a full-sized bass and those of a guitar, making the instrument much easier for beginning hands to manage, and is also a great pickup instrument for guitarists.

Though this instrument has done some duty on stage, it's since earned a peaceable retirement doing recording and living room jamming duties, for which it's reasonably well-suited.

If mine were stolen or destroyed, I certainly would consider buying another. I love this bass, and will never voluntarily part with it.

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1963 Epiphone Coronet, 1966 Gibson ES-330, 1980's Epiphone SG, 1990's Jackson PS-2. 1965 Fender Deluxe amp, 60's Harmony 525, Vox AD30VT and Gibson Goldtone GA-15. Casio CZ-1000. Alesis SR-16, M-Audio Firewire 410, Ableton Live 6.

Year made 1977 U.S.A.
19 Frets
volume and tone controls
Strat pickup
Originally white but has yellowed with age

This was my first bass so it has sentimental value, it was given to me for Christmas by my parents in 1977

Except for the finish yellowing, it has held up great

I've been playing it for 30 years and it is the only bass I own, it still kicks ass

Like I've said, I've played it for 30 years and it has never let me down

Year Made 1977 Fullerton, California, USA
19 Frets
Volume & Tone Controls
One Six-Pole Single-Coil Stratocaster Type Pickup ( Fender Special Design )
Passive Electronics
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple
Finish: Polyurethane Black Paint
Body Style: Fender Precision Type
Bridge: 2x2 Saddles
Tuners: Fender Jumbo
Neck/Scale: 30" Short Scale, Narrow, Thin & Fast. Rosewood Board.
No Accessories Included.

One Trick Pony.....Vintage Fender Sound, Warm & Rich. It Really has the Vintage Fender Mojo, but different than a P or J Bass. I Play Open Stages, So this Bass being Plug'n'Play, Suits that Activity. Some Single-Coil Hum, but not too bad.
I use it at Home through a Fender BXR25 Practice Amp and Rolls Mini-Mix 51 Mixer System. I Play Stages through whatever Amp is available. I also have a Hartke Kickback 10 120 Watt Combo, but rarely use it.
I installed GHS 3020 Flatwounds as I Kill Roundwounds in a Short Period of time and am constantly replacing them.

Factory Set-Up was 30 Years Ago !

I Set it Up with Low Action to meet My Playing Requirements. Some Rust on the Saddles and Bridge, but everything works. Two Wires under the PG had come Loose and were Soldered back where they belonged.

All-in-All, for My first All-Original Vintage Musicmaster, things were Okay.

I May get a Fret Dressing down the Road, POlays Fine " As Is " however.

Finish is Tough...No Problems.

Already took it out Live....Performed Wonderfully.

Replaced the Buttons with Schaller Strap-Locks.

These Basses are Tanks....built to Last a LONG TIME !

Reliable without a Back-Up.

Just had Two Loose Wires under the PG Re-Soldered, that's it.

Playing 38 Years.

Also Own a 1975 Hofner 4890 Acoustic Guitar.

anyone with a musicmaster or buying one read this
this is a upgrade of my last review but on my latest 78 musicmaster i have had 2 of these and struggled to find out upgrade info /
body i have stripped both my bass back to natural and unless im mistaken looks very much like an ash body.
pickups/ standard are 6 pole piece stratocaster affairs
i really like these bass's so i will give it 10 but read on for the mods.

the sound of my first musicmaster i thought was great then i heard about pickup upgrades but couldn't find any info on them so i rang everyone seymour duncan the lot then i came across rob at crazy train music heres the link info@crazytrainmusic.co.uk
and he gave me loads of info and answered some questions i had as i diddnt want to get it wrong and waste my money .
so i fitted the seymour duncan quarter pounder scpb 3 pickup /i had to widen the pickgaurd by 1mm and in it whent screws and all.
the standard 250k pots are crap and made it sound like mud so to get the real sound i bypassed the volume and tone pots wiring direct into the input socket and wow get ready it nearly made my ears bleed //i now have a very powerfull punchy sound with warm bottom end more mid and treble// sound great with pick or fingers/// get one of these you will not be dissapointed its awsome//i only have to have my markbass quarter of the way up to get the same volume as i did at half way before with the standad pup (DONT FORGET IT WILL SOUND GARBAGE THROUGH THE STANDARD POTS AND NOT VERY LOAD SO WIRE IT DIRECT LIKE ME OR GET THE RIGHT POTS///I GAVE IT A HIGH NUMBER LAST TIME I DID THE REVEIW FOR SOUND SO IF YOU COULD SCORE 20 IT WOULD NOW GET 20 HOPE THIS HELPS

I DONT HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THESE BASS'S I HAVE SAID ENOUGH BUT THEY ARE BUILT LIKE TANKS AND WILL LAST FOREVER
MINES A 78 FULLERTON USA MADE THE BODY LOOKS TO BE ASH ITS JUST BRILLIANT

REALLY EASY TO PLAY AS ITS A SHORT SCALE AND IM A 6FT 1'' BLOKE WITH BIG HANDS //IT THE SAME SIZE AS A STRAT MORE OR LESS BUT WONT FIT IN A STRAT FITTED CASE //
I PLAY THIS THROUGH A 102 MARKBASS COMBO I DONT KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THESE COMBOS BUT THEY REALLY KICK ASS AND ARE REALLY LIGHT TO CARRY// I HAD A BIG SWR 18'' RIG BEFORE THIS AND THE MARKBASS BLOWS IT AWAY /// YOUVE GOTTA GET ONE FOR THE MUSICMASTER

AND YES I DO USE THIS AS MY MAIN GIGGING BASS WITH NO BACKUP

BEEN PLAYING BASS 12 YEARS AS I AM ORIGINALY A 6 STRING GUITAR PLAYER
BUT SWITCHED TO BASS WHEN OUR BAND COULDNNT FIND A BASSIST
I HAVE OWNNED USA PRISCSION / USA JAZZ/ HOFNER COLORAMA 1966 THAT GOT STOLEN IF THE THEIFS READING THIS IM GONNA BREAK YOURE ARMS /
HOFNER BEATLES BASS AND MORE/// AMPS I HAVE HAD TRACE ELLIOT 15'' COMBO //ASHDOWN MAG 200 COMBO//MAG300 COMBO 2X10/CARLSBRO 200 BASS HEAD/ SWR HEAD AND 18'' BIG BEN CAB/ PEAVEY 500 WATT HEAD//AND NOW THE MARKBASS COMBO FORGET THE REST MARKBASS IS THE BEST
IF SOMEONE STOLE MY MUSICMASTER I WOULD TRACK THEM DOWN AND INSERT A LIVE SNAKE UP THERE ASS

1978, Made in the USA, solid alder body with black finish, maple neck with rosewood finger board (same neck as the Mustang bass), elephant ear tuners, 19 frets, , top loading bridge, 1 tone control, 1 volume control, passive electronics. Originally had the standard 6 pole guitar pick up which did not line up properly with the strings and had weak output. I upgraded it with a a DiMarzio dual blade humbucker Fast Track 1 pick up. I also added strap locks. Basic features, but they work well.

The upgraded pick up is louder and has better tone. It works great for the rock and blues tunes I play and imagine you could use it for just about anything. It produces a full warm sound or bright snappy sound, depending on how you dial it in and what strings you use. I use it with a Fender amp and do not get noise with the humbucker pick up. It sounds good live and recorded through my home computer. Not sure how it would sound in the studio, but I guess if you have the tools and know how anything can be tweaked to sound great.

The bass is over 27 years old so it had some scratches but overall in great shape. Everything is original (minus the pick up and strap locks) and functions perfectly. It had rust when I received it so I took it apart, polished it off and replaced the screws were needed. I adjusted the truss rod and set up the bass.

The bass is over 27 years old, the finish is still great and it functions perfectly. It had little play from the original owner. I put strap locks on the bass like I do with all my guitars. I have only had to adjust the truss rod during the initial set up. I can definately depend on the bass, it has never let me down. No matter what bass you have, who would gig without a back up?

I own other Fender products and have never had to contact them. All of their products have been solid. The fact I've never had an issue leads me to rate their customer services as a 10.

I have been playing bass for 2 years and guitar off and on for 20 years. I own a Musicmaster bass, Gretsch (Fender) bass, Fender acoustic guitar and Agile electric guitar. If this bass was lost or stolen I would replace it, though it would be such little play time on it. I chose this bass because I like short scales and did not want to fork over the extra money for a vintage Mustang.

Dates around 1975,usual features,bought it from a guy I worked with who had it for years. Red with white pick guard, rosewood fretboard,I eventually replaced the single coil with a black Fender Lace Sensor Gold, so it still looks stock, I may replace the bridge with an intonatable type..I dunno.

Man i love the way it sounds now. No noise and a fuller range of tone. I play guitar but I like to pick out my favorite bass riffs, too. Motown and Marley.

I've made only intonation and pickup height adjustments to it in 8 or 9 years I've owned it.

I've thought about getting another bass, but I don't play out and this one suits me just fine.

never had to deal with them

been playing for about 22 or 23 years..late starter..always wanted to play bass first, but learned guitar first. That's why I bought this little Musicmaster. If something happened to this one I would definitely find another, even though I doubt I could get it for only $125.00

musicmaster made in good old 1977 usa model
short scale
was in translucent dark red now stripped back to natural looks superb
///the tuners must be made out of stainless or cheifton tank type material cos they are indistrucktable and more than upto the job

been using it to play rock to brit pop through a 500watt peavey usa head and a swr bigben 18'' cab sound superb but to be honest i also have a cheapo squir bronco that sounds near on as good but a bit more trebeley
it really kicks ass through my rig and is quite warm in overhaul sound

easiest bass to play ever i am a 6ft.1inch bloke with big hands all the adverts say suit small people and all that crap they suit anyone its the same size as a strat and its nice and light
if your a six string player like me they are great for fast pick bass or finger as all can be reached with ease

these have been out for years and there are still plenty of 70's one's about so they must be able to stand the test of time
really happy with mine i used to play a new usa precision bass and hated it gave me awfull shoulder ache after 2 hour rehersals so i sold it and bought the musicmaster

never had to deal with them even though i have owned about 7 fenders

been playing 12 years
i really like the bass and would buy another if stolen
buyers beware they dont fit in a stratocaster case
i was told these were a student guitar to start with but lacking the budget feel
i beleve these to be very well made guitars and would recommend people to buy one ///////winxx @ yorkshire england

I bought my musicmaster bass in 1976, second hand.
Don't know how old it is.
The number is 392209 and the colour is yellow

50th rock and roll

not so good in a live band

never needed repairs, only strings

I bought it to learn to play bass and used it for demo recordings
Because of problems with my hands, I'm never able to play it again and will sell it to a collector info@verkeersmagazine.nl

I'm not sure of the year on this Bass ,but I picked it up 10 years ago in a pawn shop of all places as an impulse buy. Obviously niether the man selling it or I had any idea of what he had. Standard single pickup and all the hardware is still origninal, though even when I had first gotten ahold of this baby the frets had been worn into the fingerboard. It's obviously had a hard life. The black body still looks decent, but you can tell it's taken a few knocks here and there. The scratchguard on the other hand is in good shape leading me to believe that it's always been fingered (the technique I prefer). The neck needed to be tightened down and has a very slight warp to it ,but honestly it really gives it the character that I've come to love. There's really not much to these basses, but sometimes I guess simplicity really is the key.

I love the sound this little thing has. It's really undescribable. it has a very smooth dark sound to it, which suits my taste. Of all the basses I've had over the years this is the one I always come back to. The only beef I have with it is it's performance live. Honestly, I've found to use this bass effectively live it takes a ton of sound adjustments just to be able to hear amongst any other instruments, which is a real shame. All in all, fretted or otherwise, I've never found a bass that can duplicate the sound that this one has.

This bass really has stood the test of time considering. It's playability is amazing. I really haven't found any flaws with the design of this bass, at all. As there really isn't much to it I imagine it would have been kind of hard to mess up. As much as I love the feel of a large bass, this one seems to fit so comfortably it's scary. Almost like it's a part of you. Other than some dents where it's obviously taken a few bumps the finish, though dulled slightly with age is still thick and rich, so you can still see how beautiful this thing must have been brand new. The turning pegs are all still tight and show no signs of giving out.

As far as durability the thing really is incredible. No one I've ever played with can believe how heavy and solid it is. Other than the aforementoned fret loss the rest of the hardware is still going strong and shows no signs of deterioration. This bass also suprisingly needs very little adjustment. I have had many basses come and go and I have no problem using this one without a backup, though I usually only use it to accompany an acoustic for the above mention sound problems.

N/A

I've been playing for 16 years now and this thing is my favorite. Despite that it looks a little worse for wear and its output is limited by the single pickup, i'd never part with it. it's priceless to me.